Humans are habitual creatures. How else do you explain graduation caps, America’s rejection of the metric system, and that God-Awful Masters music? Some habits are worse than others (nose picking, swearing in front of children, that Masters music), and then there are the minor infractions. All of us do at least one or two of these… if not more.
Originally published 5/31/11 Above Photo Credit – Ollie Crafoord
1. Leaving your blazer or jacket unbuttoned after standing.
2. Wearing jeans all the time.
3. Not always using a shoe horn with your better shoes.
4. Leaving your clothes in the dryer for days.
5. Worse yet, leaving your clothes in the washer for days.
6. Not scheduling your next haircut while paying for your new one. (If they take appointments)
7. Forgetting to check at the back of your jaw line just under your ears for stray hairs post shave.
8. Using just a little too much hair product.
9. Letting your fingernails get too long.
10. Letting your toenails get too long. Like shoving a mess in a closet, even though you can’t see it, it’s there.
11. Wearing cologne every single day.
12. Allowing the interior of your car to get a few steps past, y’know, kinda messy.
13. Always out-pacing your drinking cohorts.
14. Packing around a thick overstuffed wallet in your back pocket.
15. Even worse, packing around an overstuffed wallet with zero cash in it.
16. Forgetting to tip your tailor.
17. Wearing nothing but black shoes with your grey and navy suits.
18. Wearing the same two or three colors 24/7, 365.
19. Always being the over-dressed guy.
20. Not making a consistent effort to look good for your significant other on your down time.
Agreements, disagreements, and additions all go in the comments section below….
What’s wrong with always being the over-dressed guy?
I don’t get #17. I’m sure there’s an obvious reason… help me out?
In keeping with the theme you have i would have to add: putting on your blazer in the “over your head” method, instead of under, one arm at a time.
#19 Sucks when you work in a place where pajamas and slippers are acceptable attire.
#20 Sucks when the wife thinks you dress up too much.
I suck for being guilty of nearly half of these infrations. Thanks for posting this list. After all, we are all striving to be better men.
I think the reasoning is something like this: a lot of guys who always wear black with gray and navy are not branching out and trying new things. The black shoe is traditional and looks good, but brown shoes will warm up your suit and is often more appropriate, especially in the summer (black is pretty formal). On the other hand, there are plenty of guys (like me) who always wear brown shoes and miss out on the classic look that comes from black shoes.
Definitely a case-by-case situation. Just as there is something very masculine about putting yourself together well, I think that there is something to be said for a more casual look, especially when the situation calls for it.
Brown shoes, especially a lighter walnut, can look utterly fantastic with a navy suit. Really helps you achieve a dappered look.
“13. Always out-pacing your drinking cohorts.”
I agree with this when drinking in social situations, like a get together at someone’s house, or out to dinner with friends. Basically, the fewer the people I know or the less I know them, the less I’ll drink.
Now if you’re specifically coming out to drink with me and/or you happen to be one of my homeboys (or my wife), then it’s game on.
“20. Not making a consistent effort to look good for your significant other on your down time.”
^This. Notice Joe didn’t say “dress up”, he said “look good”. Big difference. Looking good can mean working out, it can mean shaving/keeping some facial hair, it can mean dressing in a situation-appropriate way that your SO finds sexy. Maintaining attractiveness/sex appeal to your SO is one of the keys to happiness in your relationship. And if you’re married, your SO has to look at your for the rest of your life, so why not make yourself something nice to look at?
Whoa, #16. Tipping the tailor? I just gave her $350, and I will now shell out an additional – what 5%? Please explain.
There’s a difference between “always being overdressed” and “always being the overdressed guy.”
In the former, no matter where you go you’re the overdressed guy. In the latter, you might sometimes be underdressed, appropriately dressed other times, and overdressed sometimes; just that if anyone is going to overdress, it’s going to be you.
I agree that “always being overdressed” is a bad thing. Being the only guy who occasionally overdresses is not necessarily a bad thing.
“16. Forgetting to tip your tailor.”
Tipping the tailor is not always necessary. My tailor is the owner of a bespoke shop that he’s had for 40 years. Not only is he rolling in cash, at his prices there’s no way I’m tipping him. He’s EXTREMELY good though.
Yes,
3
4
12
19
Although 19 isn’t that hard to do when everyone wears basketball shorts and flip flops, or at night, an untucked dress shirt with jeans and sneakers.
If you happen to live in the UK, you can probably disregard #17. Otherwise, brown shoes look killer with navy and grey. Arguably better than black.
Always being the underdressed guy. I have a friend and colleague that I respect immensely, but he dresses like a high school kid. I invited him to a special event cocktail party at a trade show once and specificially mentioned to dress well…he had on sneakers, cargo shorts, a t-shirt and a baseball cap. The ensuing verbal beat down I applied to him was epic…actually sort of worked. At least he has moved on to flat front chinos that fit him a bit better.
12. Allowing the interior of your car to get a few steps past, y’know, kinda messy.
I didn’t realize this counted as a style error. Regardless, I’m definitely guilty…. I guess I figured out what I’m going to do this morning.
In re: overdressing: Never dress better than your boss.
Enjoy the site
I’m the three color guy…
number 20. There is no such thing as down time.
#11 should read: “Wearing too much cologne, ever”. A little squirt everyday (especially if you’re a one-cologne man such as myself) gives some consistency to one’s overall look/feel/smell/presentation, in my humble opinion.
Steve Jobs would be wise to take notice of point #2. Possibly the worst dressed CEO out there. And mock turtlenecks? Really?
Steve Jobs would be wise to take notice of point #2. Possibly the worst dressed CEO out there. And mock turtlenecks? Really?
Also, good list. Don’t really agree with the tipping the tailor point though. He gets enough of my money already!
Agreed, but I think that could (could) be dangerous. People get used to everything. And the danger in wearing cologne every day without fail, could (could) lead to some level of nose deafness for some. And that could lead to overdoing it. Or, the habit could lead men to wear it even while just heading to the gym. Which is one heck of an olfactory distraction for the rest of us rats there at 6am. Just sayin’
Very true, especially in regards to the gym!
A nice clarification of infraction #20. I guess it ties in with #19.
Ugh, I used to be a #17 and #18 guy, but it helped me build my style in the beginning. Also, I’m somewhat known as the #19 guy in many circles, but I wouldn’t say over-dress as much as I out-dress.
Glad to read this, as I realize I am only guilty of a couple. Over the past 6 months I have picked up some good habbits that are in line with many of those mentioned.
I even catch some jabs from a few buddies or coworkers for FOLLOWING some of the rules, like “always buttoning jacket when getting up”.
Re: the messy car. For me, getting into a meticulously cleaned car adds to the confidence or at least doesnt detract from it after putting some thought into your overall appearance. When my car gets messy, as with my condo, I feel anxious and not the same. OCD?
I’m with you. Sometimes I can’t do anything until I pick up our place. But when it comes to my rusted out beater truck which I for whatever reason love, the thing is a disaster on the interior 90% of the time. But I also haven’t washed it in two years for fear of having half the body fall off thanks to the ever present rust.
For me, cologne is part of my daily grooming procedure and one
that I enjoy a lot. I have about 10 different colognes to attest to
this. I never wear much, but almost always have some on. And, I’m
certainly not going to shower to get it off before going to the gym.
Doubtful anyone can smell it on me that many hours later anyway.
That said, I am probably just as annoyed at cologne abuse as you seem to be. I would be very pleased if I could go without smelling Acqua di Gio for the rest of my days, for example. Like much of male style, the choice of what fragrance to wear is often left up to one’s female companion, to the detriment of all.
Agreed…I use 1 type of cologne, and only spray a small amount on my chest before putting on my shirt so that it is never “on the front” of the clothes.
Agreed. Always better to be over dressed. It says I came from somewhere better than where I’m at or I have somewhere better to go afterwards.
which sounds awfully pretentious to me. I think that’s what that point was getting at: avoiding casting a pretentious superior air around yourself
Tipping the tailor? They set the prices on a per item basis. I don’t understand this one.
I’ve read about, and practice, the idea that while your tailor should not receive a tip, he shouldn’t be exempt from receiving a modest present from you during the holiday season.
no way in hell I’m tipping my tailor… I give him consistent work on a monthly basis! I’m sure he’d give up any tips for my regular business if I decided to go elsewhere.
If you knew the people I see on a day-to-day basis, being the over-dressed guy wouldn’t be such a bad thing
21. Allowing your nasal passages to become chubacca like in nature. Trim that stuff.
Yeah I think the distinction would be “well dressed” versus “over dressed.” You can be over-dressed, but poorly. Unless you’re Barney Stinson, chances are always suiting up is really not the way to go.
Cheers,
Ben
And to be honest I’ve never considered Barney to be particularly stylish either.
Hm is #1 really so bad if you are going for a casual look with a cotton blazer?
Completely agree. I worked with a guy that used to go by the motto “Dress for the job you want” and would wear a suit to work every day. However the atmosphere was casual and even the owner of the company wore a T-shirt everyday. It was obvious to everyone in management that the “job he wanted” was with a different company. Came off bad with everyone.
Ehem, shouldn’t number 1 be buy and iron and learn how to use it?
FWIW, I, along with my other male mock trial-ers, got chewed out by a federal magistrate judge for buttoning/unbuttoning our jackets every time we stood up/sat down in a recent competition. Apparently buttoning your jacket is too “formal” and leaves you “closed off” and “inaccessible” to the jury.
I hate the apparently delicate balance in menswear of looking authoritative vs. looking aloof, and of looking approachable vs. looking like a slob. Women have it worse, of course, as they have to factor in a third balancing act of looking attractive vs. looking slutty.
That’s an awfully specific situation where there’s a lot of psychology going on. In real life, leaving your jacket hanging wide open doesn’t do your shape any favors. No worries either way of course.
We’re talking in a global sense. If one works at a bowling alley, then yeah be “over-dressed”. But don’t show up for a flag football game with your buddies looking like you came out of an RL Rugby catalogue.
I wonder if Marshall Lilly has any comment on this one.
I don’t really agreed with number 1. I work in a law firm and am constantly getting up from my desk for a quick venture to another office,and then back down. It would be pretty annoying to adhere to that rule all of the time. I do agree that for the most part, if you will be standing for prolonged times,or are somewhere more formal, the button should be done up. I also like the look of the unbuttoned jacket sometimes…can really showcase the tie.
Pop element:with black skin lining Height:8cm covered heelmonolo blahniksMaterial:leatherWeight:0.5kgToe:pointed
I think there is a difference between being the “best dressed” and being “overdressed”. Wearing something that is completely appropriate for the situation will not make you “overdressed” no matter what everyone else is wearing. E.g. If you wear a cotton blazer, chinos, button down shirt and boat shoes to a backyard barbecue, that would be totally appropriate, even if everyone else is in a t-shirt and cargo shorts with flip-flops. Always being the “best-dressed” is never a bad thing, being “overdressed” is. Wearing a white linen suit with spectator shoes and a tie might be “overdressed” at the aforementioned backyard barbecue.
Plus, I would always rather be overdressed than underdressed.
The cash in the wallet link is dead. Here’s the updated one, it seems: http://dappered.com/2011/08/the-suggestion-carry-a-20-at-all-times/
I agree with #2. Why religiously do that when honestly mens chinos are more light and comfy!
1
I’m definitely guilty of wearing jeans all the time. I’ve always been a jeans guy though. I don’t like how chinos look on me.